Freetown | 7th November 2021 | Vertex Media
Gray Empire 34 in partnership with Blysef Foundation have kick-started a 2 days U-17 Basketball competition at the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown. This grand talents scouting tournament brought together 10 participating teams, 8 for boys and 2 for girls.
The tourney runs from Saturday 6th November to Sunday 7th November 2021 at the Basketball Court of the Siaka Stevens Stadium in Freetown, Sierra Leone.
GrayEmpire34 is an American non-profit organisation owned by Cassius Gray, an American diplomat who worked at the United States Embassy in Freetown as a Special Agent from 2014 – 2015 during the Ebola scourge.
GrayEmpire34 is a registered domestic nonprofit corporation, which focuses to creating a generational legacy with diplomatic values by providing resources centred around schooling and basketball to disadvantaged youths in South Africa, Uzbekistan, Ecuador and Sierra Leone respectively.
Cassius Gray, CEO and Founder of Gray Empire 34, who is the lead organizer of this junior championship, explains that the tournament is primarily for underprivileged kids in Sierra Leone –
“I want to help the kids that need to be equal with anyone else, that’s what we’re focusing on.”
“Sierra Leone is the very first country that Gray Empire has visited, so this is historic. Because Sierra Leone is special to me. The people here treated me very nice, the people here are also resilient.
Cassius also confirmed his trace to Sierra Leone.
“I did my ancestry.com, and 20% of my genes come from Sierra Leone. My ancestors came from here. I have to give back to this country.”
“I played basketball at high school, at college and at the military. So that’s what I know, and I have the connections, I know people in the NBA. I have the tickets for these kids to succeed.
“But they have to speak good American English and pass the entrance exam in order to make it to a college in the United States. We have to instill that in this game right now, education first, and then basketball.”
Cassius Grays is looking forward to collaborate with the Ministry of Education, the American Embassy and other institutions to ensure the education of these kids in Sierra Leone. His organization will be creating the necessary avenues and atmosphere for the kids to excel. He is also looking forward to improve on the quality of the basketball facilities in Sierra Leone.
The tourney was staged by Gray Empire in partnership with Blysef Foundation. Emmanuel Bassie, CEO and founder of Blysef Foundation also expresses delights for giving boys the opportunity to showcase their talents. Coach Bassie was the captain of the Sierra Leone Basketball team.
©️ www vertexmedia.sl
